red WILD FLOWERS 



base of the leaf stems. The slightly angular, bell- 

 shaped calyx is exceedingly thick and fleshy, and is 

 covered with minute hairs. Its upper part is divided 

 into three short-pointed lobes which, at first, are 

 incurved, then become widely spread, and form a tri- 

 angular outline. The edges are also curved outward. 

 Their base forms a cup around the short, thick, six- 

 parted pistil, which is surrounded with a dozen stamens. 

 It is stained with purple and olive brown, and is found 

 from April to June, from New Brunswick to Manitoba, 

 and south to North Carolina, Missouri, and Kansas. 



/ 



WILD COLUMBINE 



Aquilegia canadensis. Crowfoot Family. 



There is probably nothing else in the world so 

 exhilarating as a breath of pure, woodsy, spring atmos- 

 phere on a balmy day during the blithesome month of 

 May, when everything out-of-doors is stretching and 

 preparing once more for the good old summer time. 

 Thus sing the poets, and it is especially true when one 

 is privileged to nestle in admiration among the dried 

 leaves and rocks beside the Wild Columbine, for this 

 exquisite flower possesses such an unusually charming 

 and vigorous air at this time that, altogether, it warms 

 the heart, quickens the pulse, and thrills the beholder 

 with a genuine glow of pleasure and happiness. 

 Unfortunately, however, the Columbines are becoming 

 more exclusive each year, owing to the great tempta- 

 tion one experiences to pluck them, and to the still 

 greater yielding to this temptation by careless persons 



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